Apple TV expected to support Bluetooth keyboards in upcoming update

The feature could make searching and configuration less maddening.

The tiny Apple TV is a nice little streaming device. But while its user interface is better than most, its usability suffers when you're stuck pecking out search queries or network passwords using an onscreen keyboard. Apple apparently plans to rectify this problem (to be fair, a problem with most such devices) by adding support for Bluetooth keyboards in an upcoming software update for the Apple TV.

According to 9to5Mac, the latest beta software for the second- and third-generation Apple TV (build 10b5117b) includes support for pairing a Bluetooth keyboard. Based on the site's tests, it seems to work with any Bluetooth keyboard, not just Apple's own models. The arrow, return, and escape keys can take over for the usual Apple remote navigation functions, meaning you could use a compact Bluetooth keyboard to replace the tiny Apple remote (which seems to always get lost in the couch cushions).

As 9to5Mac notes, Bluetooth pairing doesn't work with any other type of device, including speakers. However, it does seem possible that a new remote design—perhaps including a mic for Siri-powered voice navigation—could come with a future Apple TV. After all, Apple CEO Tim Cook repeatedly insisted that the company has an "intense interest" in the television market, even if the Apple TV still seems to be a "hobby" for the company.

NICE! already have a keyboard to use. used to be paired with an old HTPC I got rid of. Will be nice to navigate by typing. This might also open up gaming finally on the device, as well as email and other apps.

I'd be happy for a standard Bluetooth remote. Is it me or is the remote of the current AppleTV insanely directional?

The remote app is great, but take too long to start up when I factor in my lock screen pass code and the time it takes to reconnect.

Then, just to start the rumor mill a bit, how about a Bluetooth keyboard with an attached track pad and accelerometers. Might we see Apple's entry in the TV game / application space?

The Apple remote is IR. Always has been. BTW, macs and mac notebooks still have IR ports and respond to that same remote. Though IR, it does broadcast an ID so it;s trivial to make sure a remote only works with some devices, but there's no "pairing" required, in fact, you have to do the opposite, and tell it to NOT respond to other apple remotes.

I've got one, and am likely to pair it with my living room AppleTV if/when this update comes out. (Our home currently has three AppleTV devices; second-gen in the guest room and attic, third-gen in the living room.)

An odd concession. I suspect this had been prohibited under Steve, with a preference for using Remote on an iOS device for these tasks, and there's no longer an objection under Tim.

If Apple was planning something big with this, they'd have saved it for an announcement. Slipping it in quietly like this suggests it to be more of a gift than a development or a sign of something to come.

Not as good as a keyboard obviously, but better than the remote for the AppleTV.

If it's an iPhone, yes, with the free "Remote" app. (Or iPod touch, or iPad)

And it's better than a keyboard because it doesn't have to be aimed at the ATV, and entered passwords aren't shown on the TV screen, like they are when using the standard remote control (or presumably, a BT keyboard.)

The TV has been out since 2007 and the Apple has been making wireless (bluetooth) keyboards since 2003 and they are just now adding bluetooth and compatibility.

For a company that touts how it is always looking to streamline technology - seems a little behind the curve here.

If you need to hook up a keyboard to your video appliance (or HTPC) then you're probably doing something wrong.

Support for 3rd party remotes would be a handy thing though. More buttons. No "chording".

Sounds to me like you don't have much experience with the AppleTV. It does have support for 3rd party remotes -- though, it's not what most people would expect: the AppleTV can "learn" to use the inputs from any standard IR remote. As for your suggestion that AppleTV users are "doing something wrong," I'll just say from my own experience that it is far easier to do a keyword search on Netflix with a keyboard then with any standard "remote" based solutions. (To me, that's the key advantage of the "Remote" app on my iPhone, over standard remotes.)

(Edit: To clarify, my comment is based upon my ownership of a 2nd Gen AppleTV.)

Yeah, sorry, the BT is meaningless for me; the only thing I care about is continuing to expand the available services. I was looking at a Roku as a gift for someone else and drooled over the channels it supports. So much so that the benefits of tying in to my iTunes account may not actually outweigh the lack of other options.

This is a nice improvement, but I feel that the UI needs to be more visual. Trying to use Netflix UI listing didn't make for a great experience, IMHO. I a really feel the best way to use the AppleTV is as an AirPlay terminal, combined with an iPad. The added benefit of using an iPad is that you can actually download other apps. Some in my collection are Netflix, Crunchy Roll and BBC iPlayer.

Searching is not the killer App. Within iTunes and NetFlix. You typically get the result on the right in 4-5 letters. Not generally worth the time needed to switch over from remote to the keyboard.

What I hopes this points to as preliminary support for controllers, games and Apps for the aTV.

It really depends. I've found that's it's often faster to look it up on your computer, add it to your queue, and then watch it on the apple tv, rather than trying to type with the remote. Being able to use a keyboard with cut out a lot of this hassle. I look forward to this update, and have a keyboard waiting to use.

I'd be happy for a standard Bluetooth remote. Is it me or is the remote of the current AppleTV insanely directional?

The remote app is great, but take too long to start up when I factor in my lock screen pass code and the time it takes to reconnect.

Then, just to start the rumor mill a bit, how about a Bluetooth keyboard with an attached track pad and accelerometers. Might we see Apple's entry in the TV game / application space?

The Apple remote is IR. Always has been. BTW, macs and mac notebooks still have IR ports and respond to that same remote. Though IR, it does broadcast an ID so it;s trivial to make sure a remote only works with some devices, but there's no "pairing" required, in fact, you have to do the opposite, and tell it to NOT respond to other apple remotes.

This was very helpful for me when I lost the remote to one of my two AppleTVs - the other worked just fine until I fnially located the missing one.

Pros: seamless integration with iTunes universe; AirPlay mirroring from compatible Macs and iOS devicesCons: Does not support some popular services like Amazon Instant, HBOGo, Pandora

Roku

Pros: many, many more "channels" than AppleTV; model most comparable to AppleTV is a little cheaper (~$70-80 vs. $100)Cons: (only applicable if you have a lot of iTunes content and/or other Apple products): no integration with Mac OS X or iOS.

If you don't use many other Apple products and/or don't care to integrate them with your home theater, I think Roku is easily the better choice because of the wider variety of supported "apps".

In other news, Apple has secretly been including bluetooth chips in its Apple TVs.

I found that bit peculiar as well, but believe it or not, it's true. The iFixIt.com teardown of the AppleTV2 shows that it has an integrated chip from Broadcom that is capable of offering WiFi, Bluetooth and FM functionality. (Their teardown doesn't specify whether or not you can transmit FM with that chip... but I would hazard to guess, no.)

Good points on both sides of that particular platform debate, Kestrel. In my case, I have multiple Macs and multiple iPhones in my household, so the AppleTV was the obvious choice.

Pandora on my AppleTV would be pretty sweet, though.

Yep, me too. I admit I didn't do a thorough investigation of Roku before plunging into an AppleTV; I'm looking at it now as a potential gift for a family member who is not so tied into the Apple network and without that tie-in, I don't think it holds up as well.

I'm fine with it because it's good at what I spend 96% of my time with (Netflix, and streaming music and photos from my Mac). There are workarounds for the rest; e.g. I can easily run Pandora on my phone and stream it to the AppleTV via AirPlay. It's just less elegant because it doesn't work if you don't already have a complementary Apple device. I'm not the first to say it, but the real power will come when they open it up to third party developers like they've done with the iOS and Mac OS app stores. There aren't many, but there are a few, other things I'd like to see.

I suspect the third-gen AppleTV will be the last or second-to-last they'll produce before going with full TV sets with current AppleTV functionality built in. Who knows, though...